Groups want to turn vacant Danielson mill into affordable housing

KILLINGLY — A historic Danielson mill that has sat vacant for years could get a new lease on life in the form of an mixed-use affordable housing complex.

The Women’s Institute for Affordable Housing and Economic Development group, in cooperation with United Services Inc., has proposed transforming the 145-year-old Powdrell & Alexander Mill property at 42 Maple St. into a three-story, 32-unit affordable housing complex for mixed-income, multi-family development.

The two groups’ application passed one hurdle Thursday after the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals agreed to approve variances concerning the building’s height and the size of the planned apartments, said Linda Walden, town director of planning and development. The Planning & Zoning Commission later this month will open a public hearing on the mixed-use requirements for the project.

“I think we all would have liked to have seen a better use for the mill, but it’s been years since anyone’s showed interest in moving in, and the building’s in terrible condition,” said Lynn LaBerge, a member of the appeals board. “They’re willing to clean it up and create a building similar to the one there now, but without the safety issues.”

Laberge said The Women’s Institute has a background it the type of redevelopment that’s proposed. She said the group is exploring grant funding for the work.

“It’ll make that entry point coming into town from Brooklyn look a lot better,” LaBerge said.

The project would entail razing much of the structure — while sparing the iconic clock tower — and constructing 28 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom units, Laberge said.

The mill was sold more three years ago for $350,000 to partners Trevor Bristow, of the Lodestone Development Group, and Benny Gonzalez and Marta Jablonka, of Queens Village, N.Y. Since the purchase, town officials have only had “incomplete” contact with the owners, officials said.

As of earlier this year, the owners have racked up more than $36,600 in town and borough back taxes. In addition, they are liable for fencing and demolition costs the town incurred while attempting to keep the property safe. According to state law, the town is responsible for ensuring the mill does not pose a public safety hazard. The town spent another $27,000 for the recently received state remediation report.

Recently, the state Department of Economic and Community Development recommended taking cleanup action on 10 of the 13 “Areas of Concern” identified at the 4-acre site. The state estimated that scrubbing those areas would cost between $585,000 and $990,000 — significantly less than previous estimates, which topped out at $2.5 million.

Walden said there is a purchase and sales agreement in place between the Lodestone company and the two groups seeking to move into the mill.

“In the transfer, any liens the town has would need to be fulfilled,” she said.

Don Dauphinais, president of the Killingly Business Association, said the proposal makes him “sick to his stomach.”

“It sounds good on the surface, but only three of the apartments would be at market rate, with the rest being affordable housing,” he said. “I understand the need for that type of housing, but not at the gateway into Main Street.

Dauphinais said of all the possible uses for the property, this plan leaves much to be desired.

“This is the worst-case scenario, with the second-worst plan to just leave it vacant,” he said. “The best thing to do is have the town take it over and make a park out of it. Use that water access there until a better plan can be developed.”

United Services President and Chief Executive Officer Diane Manning compared the Danielson proposal with a similar housing project in Willimantic.

“That complex has 12 of the original 30 tenants still living there from when it opened,” she said. “It did nothing but clean up that neighborhood. This is housing, not a treatment facility.”

She said the federal rules governing the complex forbid convicted felons from moving in. Manning said the aim is to have 40 percent of the tenants working within two years.

“It provides a safe place to live for people as they get back to work and pursue their education,”she said.